* PRESS RELEASE * Multiple Burglary Suspects Arrested

On May 4, 2013, at approximately 11:58 a.m. officers of the Lake Havasu City Police Department Street Crimes Unit responded to the 1600 block of Countryshire Avenue after receiving a tip from a citizen that a vehicle, matching the description of a vehicle wanted for questioning in a recent burglary investigation, was seen at this location.

The responding officers made contact with four individuals and found three of them to be in possession of a firearm. The four men were detained for further questioning and taken to the Lake Havasu City Police Department where detectives from the Criminal Investigations Bureau and the Special Investigations Bureau were called in to assist with the investigation. During the investigation and subsequent interviews, 20-year old Joseph Roseli Jr., 28-year old Justin Atherton, 29-year old Chad Smith, 32-year old Richard Schopp, and 22-year old Ryan Francoeur were taken into custody. Atherton and Smith are residents of Buckeye, Arizona, while Roseli Jr., Schopp, and Francoeur all reside in Lake Havasu City.

Detectives and the Street Crimes Unit served search warrants at a residence in the 3900 block of Brookside Drive and the 2000 block of Swanson Avenue. Items located and seized during the search warrants were determined to have come from recently reported burglary investigations and included firearms, coins, and jewelry. The investigation is on-going at this time.

Roseli Jr., Atherton, Smith, and Schopp were all charged with two counts of burglary, and one count of criminal damage. Francoeur was charged with burglary, tampering with evidence, possession of stolen property, and hindering prosecution. They all received a $250,000 bond at their initial appearances and were transferred to the custody of the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office.